What Is the ‘Template’ in the PoA Process and How Is It Different from a Full Block?

In Proof-of-Activity, the 'template' is a partially constructed block that includes the necessary transaction data and a header, but lacks the final, valid Proof-of-Work solution. Miners compete to find a valid hash for this template, but once found, it's not immediately a full, final block.

The full block is completed only after the randomly selected PoS stakers sign the template, adding their signatures and finalizing the block.